You may consider yourself to be pretty well-versed in the world of nail art. Maybe you follow more manicurists and nail-inspiration accounts on Instagram than you do your own friends. But if you have yet to hear about a nail trend making its resurgence on social media, give yourself a moment to bask in the beauty that is the velvet nails trend. If this is your first time hearing about it, that’s understandable. The look has wavered in popularity since first being spotted on LA-based manicurist Amy Le’s Instagram account back in 2022.
There are a few ways to achieve the look — whether it’s a single coat of shimmer-effect nail polish or a similar finish in a gel formula — but regardless of the route you take, velvet nails make for some of the prettiest nails that we’ve ever laid eyes on. The manicure feels especially fitting for the upcoming season because of its luxurious, eye-catching finish.
If you’re interested in achieving your own velvet nails, we discovered even more velvet-nail-art inspiration on Instagram. They have a texture to them that looks exactly like the fabric — so much so that you can almost imagine how soft they feel. Some have a slight shimmer to them, while others are matte. They work on acrylic and natural nails alike and come in a range of colors. In other words, this manicure is the epitome of versatility.
The latest viral iteration of the look uses a twisted paper clip attached to a magnet to create a negative-space heart design on the surface of the nail. As a result, velvet nails have once more skyrocketed in popularity.
Keep scrolling to see more velvet-nail-art inspiration. No judgement if you need to take a moment to phone your nail salon after scrolling through these pictures.
— Additional reporting by Ariel Baker
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